Four-sided taper box

ABSTRACT

A four-sided box having two opposite side panels tapered in one direction, and the other two opposite side panels tapered in the opposite direction, which box is formed from a substantially rectangular blank.

United States Patent 1 McCormick 1 May 8, 1973 [54] FOUR-SIDED TAPER BOX 3,311,286 3/1967 Giacoppe ..229/37R 2,067,998 1/1937 Williamson.. ..229/8 X [75] Inventor g Y Palm 3,021,045 2/1962 Morris ..229/8 x 3,302,845 2/1967 Gould ..229/8 x [73] Assigneez Union Camp Corporation, Township 3,361,329 1/1968 For ..229/8 X Wayne NJ 3,369,727 2/1968 Wright ..229/8 X 3,390,827 7/1968 Malby et al.. ..229/8 [22] Filed: May 14, 1971 3,462,062 8/1969 Miller ..229/8 [211 App! l43396 Primary ExaminerDavis T. Moorhead Attorney-Charles P. Bauer [52] US. Cl. ..229/37 R, 229/8 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/02 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..229/8, 37, 41 D A foupsided box having two oppositc Side panels References Cited tapered 1n one direction, and the other two opposite side panels tapered in the opposite direction, which box is formed from a substantially rectangular blank.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 8W5 3.731.872

i w TT 222 1.2 12 12 1&-

J UZ5 23 ATT'OPNEV FOUR-SIDED TAPER BOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement in boxes and, more particularly, to a box having a four-sided taper, which shape lends itself to the packaging of products which require ventilation. Such box, with its four-sided taper is nevertheless formed from a one piece blank which is substantially rectangular, such as the type used for regular slotted cartons, rather than fan shaped.

In conventional tapered boxes the sides and ends are all tapered in the same direction. If such boxes were made from a one piece blank, the blank would have to be fan shaped which calls for extra board to cut the blank from a larger sheet. Consequently such tapered boxes are often made from more than one piece or are formed from a blank having intricate scores and folds. In either case they are more expensive to make and assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a box in which two opposite side panels are tapered in one direction and the other side panels are tapered in the opposite direction.

It is a further object to provide a four-sided taper box which can be formed from a blank which is straight, such as that for aregular slotted carton, rather than fan shaped, which type of blank saves board and permits the manufacturing joint to be put within any panel as may be necessary for setting up the box on automatic equipment.

It is a further object to provide a box which has greater compression strength overboxes with vertical side walls or panels or walls all tapered in one direction.

It is a further object to provide a box which permits stacking of filled boxes so that they either interlock or give a 360 vent pattern.

It is a further object to provide a box which is particularly suited for the packaging of produce or other products which require ventilation.

It is a further object to provide a blank which is simple and economical to manufacture and can easily be set up into a four-sided taper box which is efficient and well suited for its intended purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank of the box showing the score lines and slots which define the side panels and flaps;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 partially set up;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the boxes stacked up to show the ventilation channels between the boxes;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 44 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a flat substantially rectangular blank of sheet material, such as corrugated board, fiber board or the like, of a weight suitable for the type of carton to be constructed. The blank 10 consists of side panels 11, 12 and 13, side panel portions 14a and 1412, top flaps 15, 16 and 17, top flap portions 18a and 18b, bottom flaps I9, 20 and 21, and bottom flap portions 22a and 22b. The top flaps and top flap portions are attached to the side panels and side panel portions along a longitudinal score line 23. The bottom flaps and bottom flap portions are attached to the side panels and side panel portions along a longitudinal score line 24. The side panels and side panel portions are attached along score lines 25, 26, 27 and 28. A score line 29 at one end of the blank defines a flap 30 which will be secured to the opposite end of the blank in forming the blank into a flat tube for shipment to customers. The longitudinal lines 23 and 24 likewise extend through the flap 29. Such attachment of the ends of the blank will serve to complete the top flap from the portions 18a and 18b, the side panel from the portions 114a and 14b, and the bottom flap from the portions 22a and 22b. It will be understood that other forms of attachment or joint, such as tape, can be used. Furthermore, the joint can be placed in any panels. Since the joint is normal to the blank, it allows automatic closure on existing equipment to form the tube. Extending outwardly from the longitudinal score lines 23 and 24, as extensions of the score lines 25, 26, 27 and 28, are slots 31, which separate the top flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 (18a plus 18b) and the bottom flaps 19, 20, 21 and 22 (22a plus 22b) from each other.

It will be noted that the score lines 25 and 26taper toward each other from the bottom to the top of the blank. This is likewise true of score lines 26 and 27. Such score lines and the score lines 23 and 24 define quadrilateral side panels each having a short dimension and a long dimension along the score lines 23 and 24 with such dimensions reversed in adjacent panels. This creates the four sided taper with two opposite side panels tapered in one direction and the other opposite side panels tapered in the opposite direction.

Although the box and blank described and illustrated herein has the top and bottom closure flaps of a regular slotted carton which can be glued or stitched together, it will be understood that the four-sided taper box of the present invention can be made with other types of top and bottom closures. For example, the opposite flaps can be provided with a tab and slot which permits forming a closure without the use of glue or stitching, or the flaps can be interleaved to provide a self-forming and locking closure.

The box can be set up and filled in conventional manner by the user (FIG. 2). After the boxes have been filled they can be stacked up as shown in FIG. 3 with the like dimension of one on top of the like dimension of the box below it and with abutting edges matching. Such reverse stacking forms an arrangement of boxes which provides a vent channel or pattern of 360 around each box and also gives greater compression strength over boxes with vertical sides or sides all tapered in one direction. Although not as advantageous it is also possible to stack the boxes with all the like dimensions downward.

Thus among others, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A one-sheet blank made from a generally rectangular sheet adapted for folding into a box having a foursided taper which is cut along lines defining the widths of the flaps for the box and scored by lines which are oblique to the rectangular edges comprising:

a pair of spaced parallel horizontal score lines and two pairs of spaced oblique score lines connecting the horizontal score lines to provide adjacent panels of the four quadrilateral side panels of the folded box; each pair of the oblique score lines defining two opposite panels of the folded box and converging toward the same horizontal score line; a single oblique score line connecting adjacent panels; oblique score lines defining the two opposite panels converging toward the same horizontal score line, while the oblique score lines defining the other opposite panel converging toward the other score line;

said pairs of oblique score lines defining three quadrilateral side panels and two portions adapted to be joined to form a fourth quadrilateral side panel;

each of said side panels having a short dimension and a long dimension along the horizontal score lines with alternating panels matching and having substantially the same long and short dimensions along the same horizontal score lines; and

flaps hinged along the horizontal score line to the panels for forming a closure.

2. The blank of claim 1 in which a joint flap is attached to one of the portions forming the fourth panel and to the flaps hinged to such portion whereby such joint flap can be secured to the other portion and the flaps hinged thereto to form'a tube.

3. The blank of claim 1 in which generally parallel slots extend outwardly from the horizontal score line to the edge of the blank as extensions of the oblique score lines to define the closure flaps hinged along the horizontal score line to the side panels. 

1. A one-sheet blank made from a generally rectangular sheet adapted for folding into a box having a four-sided taper which is cut along lines defining the widths of the flaps for the box and scored by lines which are oblique to the rectangular edges comprising: a pair of spaced parallel horizontal score lines and two pairs of spaced oblique score lines connecting the horizontal score lines to provide adjacent panels of the four quadrilateral side panels of the folded box; each pair of the oblique score lines defining two opposite panels of the folded box and converging toward the same horizontal score line; a single oblique score line connecting adjacent panels; oblique score lines defining the two opposite panels converging toward the same horizontal score line, while the oblique score lines defining the other opposite panel converging toward the other score line; said pairs of oblique score lines defining three quadrilateral side panels and two portions adapted to be joined to form a fourth quadrilateral side panel; each of said side panels having a short dimension and a long dimension along the horizontal score lines with alternating panels matching and having substantially the same long and short dimensions along the same horizontal score lines; and flaps hinged along the horizontal score line to the panels for forming a closure.
 2. The blank of claim 1 in which a joint flap is attached to one of the portions forming the fourth panel and to the flaps hinged to such portion whereby such joint flap can be secured to the other portion and the flaps hinged thereto to form a tube.
 3. The blank of claim 1 in which generally parallel slots extend outwardly from the horizontal score line to the edge of the blank as extensions of the oblique score lines to define the closure flaps hinged along the horizontal score line to the side panels. 